St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-05
/ BAR. | THER.
Place of Observation
PUBLIC LIBRARY.

~
The suggestion made by Senator DAVIS
in last Sundays GLOBE, that among the
pressing needs of st. Paul is "a public cir
culating library of not less than 80, 900 vol
umes TO begin WITH" has attracted public
attention and has been received with uni
verSal favor. Everybody approves the
proposition. but as yet there has been no
definite suggestion as to how it is to be
done. Some of us can very readily see how
it could be done if everybody else saw it in
the same light that we do. For instance,
it is a very easy matter to name ten gentle
men in st. Paul who, in our opinion. are
able to contribute the amount necessary to
establish just such library as Senator
DAVIS suggests. But the difficulty is that
those ten gentlemen do not see it in that
light. They have other, and, as they think,
better uses for their money. We have no
TILDENS and VANDERBILTS in our midst.
The men who accumulate great wealth
and then donate it to the public are not
found in every city. Among the thousand
millionaIies of the last century there has
only been one GEORGE PEABODY. AS a
rule the wealthiest men of community
are not the most public spirited. There
are exceptions to this rule, notable and
honorable exceptions, but it does not do to
rely on finding them in every community.
The opportunity for some millionaire to
immortalZe his name by contributing a
public library of 80. 900 volumes is such a
splendid one that no one sees how he can
avoid embracing it except the millionaire
nd ha Iu,t In
opportunity for immortal 81 Dry there is no
use in discussing that phase of the PROPOSE
ton.
AS we have stated, the proposition sug-
gested by Mr.. DAVIS merits the public
appreciation it has received. Every in
habitant of this city is impressed with the
wisdom of the suggestion and de-
sires to see it adopted How are we
going to get at it? This is the
question now open for public discussion.
1t is business proposition and should be
discussed as such. 1t has been suggested
that the city government make an appro-
priation of 500, 900 for this purpose, to be
provided for by property tax. The neces-
sity for the library would probably justly
the levying Of a tax for that purpose, but
there are other objections to this plan which
are so apparent that they need not to be
pointed out in this connection. If Senator
DAVIS suggestions are carried out it mus
be through Individual effort
There are two things to be considered in
connection with this project The first is to
raise the money and the second is proper
discrimination in the selection of books. As
To the first the only feasible plan is to raise
the necessary amount by individual sub
scriptlon. In order to accomplish this
somebody must take hold of the matter in
whom the people have confidence. If a
subscription committee, composed OF we'll
known and reliable gentlemen, with Senator
DAVIS at the head of it, would start out
this morning and make a thorough canvass
OF the city, taking subscriptions of from S i
to 500, we confidently believe that by Sat-
urday night they would have money
enough to establish a public circulating
library with not less than so, 900 volumes.
The great mass of the people of this city
appreciate the public benefit such a library
would be. and would cheerfully contribute
according to their several abilities towards
its establishment. And, after all, it would
perhaps be better to have the library estab-
lished in this way-in which each citizen
would feel that he is a stockholder-than to
have it donated to the city by one man. In
addition to its other advantages, it would
be better advertisement for the city, be-
cause it would speak in the loudest terms
of the enterprise and public spiritedness of
its population. Then, in regard to the Sec
ond proposition. the library when estab-
lished should consist only of books of real
and substantial value. A library of trashy
literature wouldn't be public benefit.
Fifty thousand volumes Of dime novels
wouldn't possess any special value to the
general public. That is why we say it is
necessary that the business of selecting
books should be in the hands of persons in
whose honest and discriminating Judgment
the public could rely.
The GLOBE concurs with public opinion in
this matter so far as the necessity for car
rying out Senator DAVIS suggestion is
concerned. The GLOBE is not welded to
any particular plan for doing it. What we
have said in this connection is merely slug
gestive and with the view of inviting pub
lie discussion of the matter. We hope that
our public spirited cit liens will take hold
of it, and see that the project does not die
"a bOrnin'"